A North American river otter was spotted in the Bronx River in New York City for the first time since the early 20th century. The animal, which was foraging near aquatic vegetation, was captured on camera by a motion-activated camera in June.
The camera belonged to R. J. Hawkins, a scientist affiliated with the Bronx Zoo of the Wildlife Conservation Society. According to the organization, this is the first documented sighting of a river otter in the Bronx River since the early 1900s. Hawkins said he could hardly believe what he saw in the images at first and called the discovery evidence of the importance of long-term monitoring of wildlife and environmental restoration.
River otters were once common in New York’s rivers but disappeared due to severe water pollution, habitat loss, and hunting for their fur. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the Bronx River was used as a sewage channel and a dumping ground. Factories and slaughterhouses discharged chemicals, oil, and animal blood into the water, and untreated wastewater also flowed into the river. Old tires, household appliances, and other trash were dumped into the river.
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Environmental protection measures and laws, including the U.S. Clean Water Act, have helped restore the river’s ecological health, according to The Guardian. Some species, including oysters, have already returned to the river. According to the Bronx Zoo, beavers were spotted there in 2007 for the first time in over 200 years. The Bronx River is the only freshwater river within New York City; it flows into the East River.
The appearance of a single otter does not yet confirm the existence of a stable population in the river. At the same time, this is an encouraging sighting, as river otters require clean water and an adequate supply of fish. Craig Piper, director of the Bronx Zoo, attributed the sighting to years of work by public and private partners to improve water quality and the wildlife habitat.
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